So close and yet so far for Broadstreet RFC in their most exciting game played at great pace and with great ferocity. The Street started well and were rewarded following a break by scrumhalf Nick Thatcher with an early strike from winger Perry Pudge who crossed after only five minutes. Danny Richards converting.
Bridgwater were able to hit straight back when centre Louis Messer went over for the visitors with Luke Cozens kicking into blustery conditions watching his conversion sail wide. The contest continued with great ferrocity and on 24 minutes, Streets captain Eddie Simkiss was sent to the sin bin for not rolling away. The Street weathered the pressure and with Eddie Simkiss back on after his 10 minutes redeemed himself with a deserved captains try on 39 minutes . The conversion by Danny Richards just going the wrong side of the upright.
After the halftime break with the wind no longer in their face Bridgwater came out strong and pressurised Street. After some heroic defence with bodies put on the line unfortunately The Street ran out of men and the Bridgwater flyhalf Cozens crossed the line after 13 minutes. He converted his own try.
More pressure by Bridgwater resulted in a penalty and after 59 minutes, with Cozens not wasting the opportunity to creep the visitors into the lead for the first time. The Street fightback was immediate and some excellent work by Jordan Simpson saw the street man dive over the line for a well deserved try. His celebration afterwards also deserves a mention as the summersault was also faultless.
Another technical offence resulted in a penalty with Cozens striking the ball perfectly and put the visitors back in the lead with 5 minutes to go.
Broadstreet piled on the pressure with Danny Richards inches away following another brake attack by Broadstreets whole side with attacking rugby cheered on by the large amount of support at the Ivor Preece Field.
Another attack saw a drop goal attempt by Richards go the wrong side of the crossbar again by a matter of inches. At the final whistle to a great game that could have gone either way and the big guns in the next round await Bridgwater not Broadstreet.
